Welcome to my weekly post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I’m loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
What We’ve Been Watching
Kathrynne and I watched Wonder Woman together. Honestly, I’m not sure what to say about it. I know so many people have raved about it. I kind of felt like it fell flat for me.
Part of me wonders if I watched it again if I’d enjoy it more. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I know it was definitely different than what I thought it would be.
It was also pretty science-fiction-y for me (not my favorite genre) and there were some edge-y parts in it. I’d recommend watching it ahead of time before letting your kids watch it, if you were thinking of having them watch it.
Jesse and I have also (finally!) started watching This Is Us. We weren’t sure what we were going to think of it — especially since we’re pretty careful about what we watch and the opening scene made us concerned that this would be yet another series that we just didn’t feel comfortable watching.
But we stuck with it and we’ve really fallen in love with it. I think there’s something so powerful about the storytelling in this series. It doesn’t sugarcoat things. It’s real, raw, and messy. And yet, it also captures how the little moments in life are so beautiful, as well. I also love how it powerfully portrays how much our past affects our present and how wounds and hurts we’ve never dealt with or healed from can impact us and our relationships for years to come.
If you’ve seen Wonder Woman or This is Us, I’d love to hear your thoughts and whether you agree or disagree with me. 🙂
What I’ve Been Reading
Kaitlynn and I finished Beyond the Desert Gate together — a read-aloud we were assigned to read for her Sonlight homeschool curriculum, but one that we both really enjoyed.
I also read a pre-release copy of In Bloom by Kayla Aimee. Her book is all about trading restless insecurity for abiding confidence. It was such a great read — and one I could really relate to in my own journey through insecurities and feeling like I’m not good enough.
And finally, I’m finishing up reading Out of My Mind (I should finish it tonight) and it’s been a good read. If you enjoyed Wonder, I think you’d enjoy it.
{See my Reading Goals for 2017. Also, see the 70 books I’ve read so far in 2017 here.}
A Little Peek Into Our Daily Life Around Here
I caught them like this one night before bed this past week. They told me they were working on a “top secret” project.
I’m not sure what it was, but I loved hearing them laugh and giggle from their room as they worked together on it.
Not all moments are beautiful like this… but there are beautiful moments like this in every day, if only I have eyes to notice them.
I came downstairs one morning this past week to see him carefully wiping down every crevice of every single chair — without being asked!
He looked up and said, “I feel like I’m on Flea Market Flip. I bet I could clean this table up and re-sell it.”
Yes, your eyes aren’t mistaking you. I’m letting Silas spray paint furniture. In our garage. And I was helping him and cheering him on.
If you know anything about my personality type and about how messes and paint and craft projects are so.not.my.thing, then you will look at this photo and know that this is a testament to Jesus and His work in my heart.
It’s also a testament to how my Year of Rest changed me. Because I’ve learned that there’s more to life than chasing productivity and checking things off my to do list.
I’ve also learned that stopping to make memories with my child — even if it’s messy — is one of the most important and best uses of my time.
And it only took me 36 years to discover that— surprise, surprise! — spray painting is actually really fun. I never knew this because I was always to busy with my to do lists to be bothered.
Watch out, world. I see many bottles of spray paint in our future! ?
Kathrynne gave her Second Quarter Project speech this past week and did such a great job! She had to create an Illuminated Manuscript and then write a speech on what passage she chose to write out and why. (You can see her friend holding her manuscript next to her in the picture.)
One of our goals for 2017 was for Jesse and I to go on a trip together. We decided to go on a Marriage Retreat that was put on by some friends of friends of ours.
The Marriage Retreat was held at the Whitestone Country Inn and it was an amazing experience! The sessions were fantastic and we had a number of breakthroughs in how we approach communication our marriage.
Plus, we loved getting to spend so much quality time together, take in the beautiful scenery, enjoy the yummy meals, go on walks together, and just take time to really invest in our marriage and have fun together. It was so good for our marriage — and our souls!
We’re so grateful that my parents were willing to fly up and take care of our kids while we got away. It was such a blessing and a gift to us!
Something I’ve Been Pondering
She did something this past week that I got frustrated by. I didn’t yell at her, but she could sense the frustration in my voice.
She left the room and went to her room. And then I felt the prompting in my heart, “Call her back in. Really listen to her. Make sure she is seen and heard.”
I gently called her back and saw the tears in her eyes.
“Mom, I did that for you. I thought you would be happy about it. I feel like I just can’t seem to do the right thing.”
And my heart broke right in two. To think I had crushed her spirit and hurt her by my hints of frustration over this project she had done — not knowing her heart in it was to do something to make me happy.
I apologized. We talked. I thanked her. And then we worked together to finish the project.
And it was a beautifully bonding moment — as well as such an important reminder that sometimes what it appears like on the surface is often not at all what the intent of someone else is.
“Lord, help me to really see my kids as You see them. Give me grace to parent from Your love. Help me to take the extra time to find the good and praise it. Let me listen carefully, love abundantly, and show your grace lavishly — just as you have done for me. Help my kids to feel seen, heard, and valued by me… so that ultimately they will know how much they are seen, heard, and valued by You.”
Links You Should Check Out:
- Looking for frugal gift ideas for Christmas? We’ve got all sorts of ideas and links for you right here.
- Curious as to why we’re currently renting our house in TN? I share all about it in this really honest post.
- I’ve been mulling over this quote all week long.
- My kids are SO excited about what we’re doing for Advent this year. Get all the details here.
Peggy says
“Lord, help me to really see my kids as You see them. Give me grace to parent from Your love. Help me to take the extra time to find the good and praise it. Let me listen carefully, love abundantly, and show your grace lavishly — just as you have done for me. Help my kids to feel seen, heard, and valued by me… so that ultimately they will know how much they are seen, heard, and valued by You.”
Crystal, I have older children (3 young men) and how I wish this had been my heart’s prayer when I was your age! Unfortunately, I cared way too much what others thought. When you were prompted by the spirit to bring your daughter back into your room to make things right, my soul was blessed. I’m thinking next time it will be even easier to hear and obey what the Lord would have you do. I have witnessed your spiritual growth since beginning to read your blog years ago, it is such a testimony to the goodness and mercy of God. Blessings to you and your sweet family this Thanksgiving week!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
Sarah Mueller, RD says
I wasn’t a fan of Wonder Woman either. I think I fell asleep. I can’t understand why people were SO excited about it…
Crystal Paine says
I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one!
heather says
I love This is Us. It does have some elements in in that aren’t my favorite, as a Christian and, I could do without. But, I think the good outweighs the bad.
Crystal Paine says
I definitely agree with you!
heather says
And, my daughter’s adopted and we may be adopting her full biological sibling due in February…so there’s that too 🙂
Anna Rose says
We just watched Wonder Woman last night and I am with you. The movie was missing a lot of something for me. Maybe because you are a writer, you were picking up on lack of depth in the writing? For me, when the subject is very serious, there needs to be a balance with comic relief, which was sparse. And I think I also sabotaged myself because I had high expectations since the movie did so well in the theaters and expected to be wowed.
Tracy says
On many weekends I work as a clerk for a Grocery Auction company. Yesterday I had to work and I needed something simple done. I needed a couple sheets of paper torn up so I could do a door prize for the crowd of people who came. My one co-worker was tearing them for me, after I showed him what I wanted. Then another guy there asked him if he was making sure they were “perfect”. My co-worker asked me if he was making them perfect as he wanted to make sure they were. When I realized they both were serious, I responded with I don’t expect perfect. I would rather just have you do your best. The look on their faces was pure shock. That I was thrilled to have someone help me and that their best was good enough for me. I felt so sad for them that they felt like when they help in this case a female it had to be perfect or they would get scolded. They both are in there 60’s. I am 30. This just made me so glad that I am teaching my son to aim for his best not perfection.
Rachael says
I’m completely hooked on This is Us, love the way it keeps skipping around to the different decades as we learn more about their lives. We’re into Season 2 now, and without giving anything away, it’s been taking some depressing turns, and it’s really frustrating to see the characters we’re rooting for just completely unable to cope effectively with life. I guess that’s what makes it entertaining for most people, but for me sometimes it’s really hard to watch!
Misty Gorman says
This is Us is outstanding! I am a foster/adoptive parent. The writers nail the relationship dynamics that many families face in the fostering/adoptive worlds. I love how they show grace for the birth parents and portray them as humans rather than society’s outcasts. I cry watching every episode, because it hits so close to home. I am so grateful that they are shining a light on fostering/adoption in a time when there are not enough homes for children.
Crystal Paine says
That makes me so happy to hear that you feel that way about the show… I was wondering if that were the case and was hopeful it was for adoptive/foster parents.
Kaeli Evans says
Out of my Mind is an excellent book! One of my favorites…I am reading one like it right now called Beholding Bee…so far it is good too.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much!
Christina says
My daughter and I love This Is Us! We look forward to watching each new episode!
Joanne Peterson says
I was touched the most in your post by you listening to the still small voice asking you to call your child back, listen to your child, and make sure she knew she was seen and heard. How many times have I ignored how this would affect my child by my frustration? I need to be mindful of their hearts. Thank you for sharing this moment.
Crystal Paine says
This is something God has really been teaching me… and growing in me!
Lisa Adams says
I loved Wonder Woman. I have a patriarchal conservative background, and it was so freeing for me to see a movie depicting a woman as very feminine but simultaneously very strong. It made me consider how the Biblical term for helpmeet/ezer is actually a military term. I really liked what this article about Wonder Woman: http://www.marilettesanchez.com/marilettesays//wonder-woman-might-be-the-most-accurate-on-screen-depiction-of-biblical-womanhood-and-heres-why. That said, my oldest is 8, and I wouldn’t take my kids to see it for awhile because of the PG scenes!
Joanne Peterson says
Thank you for leaving the link. I’ve read about ezer, but this is one of the best I’ve read explaining the military terms and the strength of womanhood in God’s eyes. Very good!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for sharing!
Marilette Sanchez says
Thanks so much for sharing, Lisa! I, too, came from a patriarchal conservative background, and God had been working on my heart for a while before giving me the words to write that article. I’m still so grateful for how the Holy Spirit has continued to bring the article to my fellow sisters who needed to read it.
Appreciate the support!
-Marilette
Lisa Adams says
Oh my gosh, Marilette, the author herself responds to my comment! 🙂 I loved your article! I know you got a ton of flak for it. Strong women who speak truth get criticized. Keep on writing! Tender heart, tough skin!
Beth says
My husband and I are watching This is Us too. I would agree that I like the story line and writing. My only complaint is the casting–some of the choices are really confusing to me.
LInda says
I love This Is Us! I’m on season 2 now and it keeps getting better. Lots of surprises. And tears. Keep watching.
Crystal Paine says
We’re about halfway through season 1. I’ve heard it keeps getting better!